TV personality, Denise Van Outen has joined some of the Countries’ top British Olympic sailors to learn how to sail. Denise and good friend, actor and TV presenter Chris Parker are being taught by top British 470 sailor, Saskia Clark while competing in the annual 50 mile sprint around the Isle of Wight, namely the JP Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race. Her first experience of racing was yesterday, when she had a practice sail with Team Volvo for life sailor, and top British Paralympian Helena Lucas.

It is an exciting opportunity for Denise and Chris to gain world class sailing experience with the 2012 hopefuls. As complete novices to sailing, Denise and Chris are in safe hands during the race with fellow Essex local Saskia and Olympic gold medallist, Paul Goodison. They are sailing around the Isle of Wight in a 35ft racing boat along with a crew of seven. Denise started the race from the Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes at 06.00am.  And shortly afterwards transferred to her boat for the start of her class at 06.50am.  The conditions have been testing 20knts gusting at times 25knts, so an extremely fast and exhilarating race for Denise's first experience onboard.

Joining Saskia and Denise in the race are sisters Lucy and Kate Macgregor, two thirds of top international Women’s Match Race team and current World Champions the ‘Match Race Girls’. The Girls will show their competitive spirit as they battle it out against each other and will each be joined by a crew of three, including some of the country’s best youth sailors, members of the RYA Volvo Team GBR squad.

Credit Anthony Jones @ Mark Lloyd images

Saskia is confident that they can prove the 'only way is Essex' and beat her fellow Olympic and Team Volvo for life sailors “I’m really excited to be teaching Denise how to sail and to take part in such a high profile yacht race.  It’s a fantastic opportunity; I’m used to sailing a two person dinghy so to skipper a crew 7 including Denise is very exciting. I’m really up for taking part and I’m looking forward to the challenge” Said Saskia. 

One of Britain’s leading Paralympic sailors, Helena Lucas and Nick Dempsey, Olympic bronze medallist and 2009 World Champion RS: X Windsurfer will also be competing against the girls in J109s.

The event itself attracts over 16,000 people from the most novice of sailors to the serious competitors as well as a host of celebs- past competitors include Lewis Hamilton, Davina McCall, and GMTV’s Emma Crosby. 

Denise and the sailors are estimating a time of around eight hours to complete the 50 nautical mile course and can be followed via online tracking as they circumnavigate the Isle of Wight.

There will be images available of Denise and the Olympic sailors over the race weekend and you can track their progress HERE

Follow the team as they complete the race on Twitter www.twitter.com/volvosailingand Facebook www.facebook.com/volvocarssailing.